CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) - A solid first three quarters was undone by a scoreless fourth for the Boston College Eagles, as they fell, 24-14, to the No. 3 Clemson Tigers on Saturday night.

Six weeks after defeating then fifth-ranked Georgia to start the season, the Tigers and Tajh Boyd put together a fourth-quarter comeback that kept them on course for next week's Atlantic Coast Conference contest with No. 6 Florida State.

Senior wide receiver Alex Amidon and the Eagles (3-3, 1-2 ACC) nearly spoiled the party, keeping the Tigers out of sync offensively and using big plays to carry a 14-10 lead into the final period. That's when the Tigers (6-0, 4-0) fought back, Boyd's 6-yard TD run with 13:44 left putting them ahead for good.

National sack leader Vic Beasley sealed things a few moments later when he scooped up Chase Rettig'sfumble and took it 13 yards for a touchdown. The Boston College quarterback coughed up the ball after a big hit by linebacker Tony Steward.

Clemson held on to start 6-0 for the second time in three years.

The Tigers most likely won't wriggle of the hook should they repeat the errors against the well-rested Seminoles (5-0), who had Saturday free and come off a 63-0 victory over Maryland in their last game.

Boyd also had a touchdown pass and finished with 334 yards passing to become the school's all-time leader in passing yards, surpassing Charlie Whitehurst.

Sammy Watkins had seven receptions for 101 yards, his fourth game over the century mark this season and 11th in his career. He scored on a 48-yard touchdown grab that gave the Tigers their first lead of the game at 10-7.

But it was Clemson's oft-maligned defense - remember when the Tigers gave up 70 points in the Orange Bowl two years ago? - that turned things around in this one.

Eagles tailback Andre Williams, who came in the nation's top rusher, was held to fewer than 3 yards a carry with 70 total. He had gained a career-best 263 a week ago in Boston College's win over Army.

Boston College finished with 286 yards on offense, 162 of those coming on its two TD drives. It's the fifth straight game Clemson held an opponent to 14 points or less.

Clemson put its past two opponents in Wake Forest and Syracuse away by halftime, leading 35-7 at the break and cruising to sizeable victories.

The Tigers tried that formula again in this one, reaching the BC 6 before kicker Chandler Catanzaro ended a string of 28 straight field goals inside 48 yards as he missed from 25 yards away.

It was only the start of the Tigers execution problems. Two series later, Zac Brooks fumbled at the end of what would've been a first down and Eagles linebacker Steele Divitto recovered.

After driving 68 yards to the Boston College 28, Watkins airmailed a halfback pass over wide open Adam Humphries. Two plays later, holder Corbin Jenkins couldn't get the snap down and the Tigers again left without points.

Rod McDowell had Clemson's second fumble of the half a series later, then came up shy on fourth-and-6 as Clemson passed up a long field goal try the next time it had the ball.

The Tigers finally broke through on the half's last play, Catanzaro nailing a 35-yard field goal as time ran out to trail the Eagles 7-3 at the break.

Clemson's struggles continued into the second half. The crowd of 77,506 relaxed some when Watkins took in his 48-yard catch along the right sidelines for a touchdown to put Clemson on top 10-7. But BC answered one play later on Rettig's 69-yard TD toss to Amidon.

The nervousness didn't leave for good until after Beasley bounded in with the loose ball for a double-digit lead.

"We did some really good things and some really bad things," said first-year Boston College coach Steve Addazio. "If we can keep working and keep believing, then good things will happen."

Team Notes

Boston College limited Clemson to three first-half points, marking the first time that the Tigers have not scored a touchdown in the first half since the NC State game in 2011, a span of 21 games.

Boston College's defense held the Tigers to a season-low three first-half points, marking the fewest first-half points allowed by BC since the Eagles held Maine to three first-half points in a 34-3 home win last September.

Boston College led after three quarters, 14-10, marking the fourth time in six games this season the Eagles have entered the fourth quarter with a lead. It also marked the first time this season the Tigers were trailing after three quarters and the first time since the Tigers 25-24 win over Louisiana State University in last year's Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The teams played a scoreless first quarter, marking just the second scoreless opening quarter for the Eagles' offense this season. Additionally, it marked the first opening quarter in which Clemson had been held scoreless in 21 games dating back to last year's Chik-fil-A Bowl against LSU, which Clemson came back to win 25-24.

Offense

Senior wide receiver Alex Amidon caught six passes for a game-high 121 yards and one touchdown - a career-long 69 yard reception in the third quarter - in Boston College's 24-14 loss at No. 3 Clemson, marking his third 100-plus yard receiving effort of the season and his school-record 10th of his 39-game collegiate career. It also marked Amidon's second 100+-yard receiving effort in as many seasons against the Tigers. Last fall, Amidon caught eight passes for a career-high 193 yards and two touchdowns. In the last two seasons, Amidon has caught 14 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Amidon, who also registered two rushing attempts for 12 yards, finished the Saturday's game with a game-high 133 all-purpose yards. Amidon previously surpassed former Eagles Rich Gunnell (2006-09) and Brian Brennan (1980-83), who each recorded eight 100+-yard receiving games in their respective careers.

Freshman RB Myles Willis 38-yard touchdown run marked the first touchdown of his four-game career. It also marked the longest rush of the young season for Boston College, surpassing Andre Williams' 37-yard rush against Army on Oct. 5.

Defense

BC registered two fumble recoveries on the day, marking the Eagles' ninth and 10th takeaways of the season (five interceptions, five fumble recoveries).

Boston College's defense limited the Tigers to three first-half points, marking the fewest first-half points allowed by BC this season and since the Eagles held Maine to three first-half points in a 34-3 home win last September.

Senior linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis, last week's ACC Linebacker of the Week, recorded 10-or-more tackles for the fourth time this season and the 14th time of his 37-game collegiate career.

Junior DB Sean Sylvia forced fumble in the second marked his first of the season and Boston College's sixth of the season. Senior LB Steele Divitto's ensuing fumble recovery marked his first of the season and the team's fourth.

Sophomore DB Bryce Jones recovered a Clemson fumble in the second quarter, marking his second fumble recovery of the season.

Attendance: 77,506Weather: 65 degrees, winds out of the northeast at 5-10 miles per hour Coin Toss: Boston College won the toss and deferred to the second halfGame Captains: Senior LB Kevin Pierre-Louis joined co-captains Kasim Edebali and Ian White for the coin toss